Fall 2021 - EASC 711 G200
Directed Readings (3)
Class Number: 8126
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Location: TBA
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Instructor:
Gwenn Flowers
gflowers@sfu.ca
1 778 782-6638
Office: TASC 1 Room 7237
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Prerequisites:
Permission of the instructor.
Description
COURSE DETAILS:
Uncertainty in distributed runoff modelling of glacierized catchments
Course description:
Glacier mass-balance and runoff models are used in many applications, including studying the evolution of glaciers through time, assessing and projecting freshwater supply from glacierized catchments and partitioning runoff from these catchments into their renewable and non-renewable sources. There are, however, compounding sources of uncertainty in these models, from downscaling climate data to the method of bias correction. This course will focus on investigating and assessing the various sources of uncertainty in computing the water budget of a glacierized catchment in the St. Elias Mountains. This catchment is significant as it was the site of a major hydrological rerouting of runoff destined for the Bering Sea to the Gulf of Alaska in 2016. This course focuses on assessing the uncertainty contributed by the downscaling and bias correction of climate data, as well as physical parameterizations in the model.
Course delivery:
There will be weekly meetings between the student (Katie Robinson) and instructor (Gwenn Flowers), on Thursdays from 1:30-2:30. Prior to each meeting, the student will submit a short summary of the week’s readings (1-2 readings per week) written in the form of a literature review, including proper citations and references. The content of the week’s readings will be discussed during the meeting. A summary of the progress towards the final project will also be presented at each meeting, which can be used to discuss next steps or troubleshoot any issues.
Course Project:
The final deliverable will be a glacier mass-balance modelling project that aims to assess various sources of uncertainty in runoff partitioning from the Kaskawulsh Glacier and the surrounding catchment. The findings from the project will be summarized in a report. The report should answer the following questions:
- What is the total annual runoff from the catchment?
- How is this runoff partitioned into renewable vs non-renewable sources?
- What are the leading sources of uncertainty in runoff estimation and partitioning?
- What processes/parameters can be altered and how to reduce uncertainty efficiently?
Grading
- Written summaries of course readings 20%
- Final project 80%
Graduate Studies Notes:
Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2021
Teaching at SFU in fall 2021 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with approximately 70 to 80 per cent of classes in person/on campus, with safety plans in place. Whether your course will be in-person or through remote methods will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes. You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).
Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required. You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the fall 2021 term.